Coin collection apparatus



Aug. 11, 1931. J, M, ME L ICK 1,818,568

COIN COLLECTION APPARATUS OriginalFiled March 15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTOR J. M MEL/CK By Aug. 11, 1931. J. M. MELICK COIN COLLECTION APPARATUS Original Filed March 15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //Vl EN 70/? -J. M MEL/CK Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES am: a. all

ATENT LOFFICE cinemas; incdnroaatmp; or New YORK; a. Y.; A coitromlrioiv or aew Yoak com COLLECTION Arrntmrus s x. at n sski i em assi s To. esam -saw a Original applause filed March 15, 1928, Serial No. 251,792. Divided and this application 'filed. rebruar H 6,1929. Serial No. 337,768 1 This invention. relatesto. coin collection apparatus in which coin ortoken is deposited for theme of an instrument orfor the purchase of services or supplies from a vending device. a a g I application is a division of iny Patent 1,7 57,45 1 dated May 6, 1930. a

More particularly the invention relates to telephone toll apparatus such as that described in Patent No 1,043,219 to F. F orsberg, patented November 5, 1912 where one or more coins are deposited for the use of a telephone instrument, the deposited coins indicating to a telephone operator through the instrumentality of a signal, the.,.fact that they have been deposited. This type of apparatus is incorporatedin what are known as telephone pay stations.

A, common form of signaling apparatus used in connection with telephone pay stations or the like includes a coin chute in which channels are formed and along which the deposited coins travel and ar guided to a signal device that is sounded or operated by the impact of the coin, or otherwise.

An-object of the present invention is to prevent the fraudulent use of coin collecting apparatus.

In accordance with one feature of the invention an improved trap in a coin chuteis provided, to prevent the partial or complete withdrawal of a coin attachedto a string after it has passed. far enough through the chute to operate thefsignal. Y, I y Another feature o f the invention resides in the provision of means for preventing the repeated operation of the signal by the repeated raising and lowering of a coin attached to a string Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows a front view of the coin chute, a coin gauge for receiving coins of two different sizes, a signaling device and a portion of a hopper or coin receptacle. A coinv attached to a string is shown suspended within thechute. V v

Fig. 2. is a sectional view along the line 2 2' of Fig. 1, lockin in the direction indicated by the arrows, with a cover t the chute in place.

of.Fig.1. .Fig. 4 is a sectional view along lines 14 of e.;. Fig. 5 is aview of the portiono f the chute shown by Fig. 4: with a coin attached to a string in position for an attempted withdrawal. 7 y N v Fig. (dis a yiew of a portion of a coin chute with a trap externally attached for preventing the withdrawal of a coin atvention. I, v

The coin chute shown by Fig.1 comprises Fig. 31s a sectional view along lines 83 a member 5 having two channels 6 and 7 which merge into a cornmon channel 8 at their lower end, and a ,cover 9. Ahove the chute 5 is a coin gauge .10 in which coin slots 11 and 12are provided for depositing of coins of different denominations. A gong 13 is provided for signaling purposes; A portion of a hopper for receiving deposited coins isshown at 14;. A coin 15 is shown in channel 7 attachedto string 16. A portion or the cover 9 is shown cutaway to present a view of the details of the trap The channel 7 is'inade slightly wider, fronr1 the top of the chute to portion 19 of one, ofits walls, than the widthof a coin which travels through it to strike signal 13. 3 Below wall portion 19 the channel ,7 is widenedconsiderably and is deepened :to form depression 20 into which a coin attached to a string falls after passing wall portion 19. Sloped the depth ofthe channel 715' placed inthe widened portion of the channel acent Wall. portion 19 and is SPQJCQClfIQI H wall portion 19 to form the slot.18. Thelower projection 17 having a height greater than wall of channel 7 immediately adjacent gong p 13 is raised to form inclined portion 21 which serves to prevent a coin attached to a string after falling into depression 20 from being raised by the string to strike against gong 13.

A sectional view of projection 17 is shown by Fig. 2. The projection is seen to have a height greater than the depth of channel 7 and to extend into an opening of cover 9. Fig. 3 shows how channel 7 has been wid ened and deepened to form depression 20.

It will now be explained how the trap illustrated by Figs. 1, 2 and 3, functions. Suppose, for example, that coin 15 attached to string 16 is inserted in coin slot 12. The coin by force of gravity will travel along channel 7 past the projection 17 and will strike the upper portion of the gong 13 thus signaling the operator that a coin has been deposited. Up to the time that the coin 15 has struck the gong the attached string 16 has followed the coin 15 along through the channel 7. If, after the signal has been given, an attempt is made to withdraw the coin by the string, the coin falls into depression 20 and the string is forced against the projection 17 and as the string is pulled taut it will slide up projection 17 and into groove 18. Due to the fact that the projection 17 has a height greater than the depth of the channel 7, it is not possibleby alternately slackening and tugging the string to throw it out of the groove 18 back into the channel. On further withdrawal of the string the coin is caught against the lower portion of projection 17 and can not be further withdrawn. Since depression 20 into which channel 7 has been widened is directly under projection 17 the coin, while the string isin the groove 18 will hang beneath projection 17 so that it is not possible by repeatedly raising and lowering the coin to cause it to strike gong 13 repeatedly thereby deceiving the operator into the belief that a plurality of coins havebeen .deposited. If the channel 7 had the same width adjacent the upper portion. ofgong 13 as it has above projection 17, a suspended coin would hang above the gong and it would be possible to give repeated signals by raising and lowering the string. Inclined portion 21 of the lower wall of channel 7, adjacent the upper portion of gong 13 prevents the coin on, being raised from striking the upper portion of the gong. The depression 20 is made deeper than channel 7 in order that the suspended coin when the coin is raised will catch against the walls of the depression thus interfering with the upward movement and the movement towards the gong, of the coin, making it still more diflicult to agitate it in such a manner as to strike the gong.

Fig. 6 shows a portion of a coin chute provided with a trap which may be readily attached to the cover of a coin chute. This trap comprises a metal member 30 which is secured by means of bolt 31 to cover 32. A flexible metal tongue 33 is attached to member 30 and extends through opening 34 of cover 32 into channel or slot 35. Curved portions 36 of member 30 also extend into slot 35.

Fig. 4 shows clearly how tongue 33 and curved portions 36 extend into slot 35. The tongue is so arranged thata coin attached to a string, traveling downwardly in slot 35 will press against the lower portion of tongue 33 lifting it sufliciently to permit the coin to pass underneath. After the coin has passed the tongue will spring back into its former position in the slot. Thenif anattempt to withdraw the coin by an attached string is made the coin will ride up the lower portion of the tongue, bending the tongue underneath it so that it willride up against the curved portions 36 of member 30 and strike the cover 32 where it can move no further upward. Portion 36 by arresting the progress of the coin prevents it from wedging between the tongue 33 andthe cover 32. Fig. 5 shows a coin 37 attached to a string 38 in its arrested position. The coin is shown bearing on the tongue bending it underneath and in an arrested position against curved p0rtions36 and cover 32.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. A trap in a coin chutecomprising a channel through which a coin travels to operate a signal, comprising a flexible spring member extending into said channel, said member being adapted to permit the passage of a downwardly traveling coin and to prevent the withdrawal of said coin after it has passed said member and means comprising a rigid member adjacent said spring member to prevent the wedging of said coin between said'spring member and the wall of the coin chute on attempted withdrawal.

2. In combination, a coin channel having an opening in the wall thereof, a trap attached to the outer side of said wall, said trap comprising a flexible spring member extending through said opening, said member being adapted to permit the passage of a downwardly traveling coin and to prevent the withdrawal of said coin after. it has passed said member and meansto prevent the wedging of said coin between said spring member and the wall of said channel on attempted withdrawal, said meanscomprising a rigid forked member, the prongs of said member extending into said channel but in non-interfering relation to the passage of a coin.

.3. A trap for a coin chute comprising a rigid forked member, the prongs of said member extending into saidcoin chute but in non-interfering relation with the downward passage of a coin,.and flexible means adapted to .permit .thepassage of a downwardly traveling coin but to prevent its withdrawal, said means extending between the prongs of said forked member into said coin chute.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day of January, 1929.

JOHN M. MELICK. 

